Rockingham, St Leonard

The medieval church was destroyed during the siege of Rockingham Castle in the civil war as was the village that then surrounded it. The present building is on the same site and largely dates from the nineteenth century. It is a spectacular position with fine views over the Welland valley. It is well worth the pilgrimage up the steep path from the village road. Internally it’s chief draw is the funerary chapel to members of the Watson family, Earl Sondes. The chapel was created in 1873 and monuments dating back to the 16th / 17th centuries and onwards were reassembled here. Many and various they include fine works, often on an heroic scale, by John Nost, William Palmer, Delvaux and Scheemakers, Rysbrack and Paine.

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